,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bhfb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #ad1 #bjai,ms4
 ,s9ema 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,cornyn7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,environm5t & ,public ,works  ,a ,,bill 
,to direct ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture to
 e/abli% a grant program to remove      
nonnative plant species t contribute to 
dr\ght conditions1 & = o!r purposes4    
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,dr\ght ,relief ?r\gh ,innovative     
,projects ,act ( #bjai or ! ,,drip ,act 
( #bjai4  #b4 ,nonnative plant species  
removal grant program  7a7 ,def9itions  
,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,!
 t]m eligible entity means a p>tn]%ip   
betwe5 two or m entities t--  7,a7 %all 
include-- 7i7 at lea/ #a flood control  
di/rict2 &  7ii7 at lea/ #a city1 c\nty1
 t[n%ip1 t[n1 bor\gh1 p>i%1 village1 or 
o!r g5]al purpose political subdivision 
( a ,/ate or ,indian tribe 7z def9$ 9   
section #d ( ! ,indian                  

,self-,det]m9ation & ,education         
,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd772 
&  7,b7 may include any o!r entity 7su* 
z a nonpr(it organization or in/itution 
( high] education71 z det]m9$ by !      
,secret>y4  7#b7 ,nonnative plant       
species ,! t]m nonnative plant species  
means a plant species t-- 7,a7 is       
nonnative or ali5 to an ecosy/em2 &     
7,b7 if introduc$ to t ecosy/em1 w      
cause1 or is likely to cause1 economic  
h>m1 environm5tal h>m1 or h>m to human  
heal?4  7#c7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y 
means ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture4  7b7  
,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a 
grant program to aw>d grants1 on a      
competitive basis1 to eligible          
entities--  7#a7 to remove nonnative    
plant species 9 rip>ian areas t         
contribute to dr\ght conditions2  7#b7  
to replace ^? nonnative plant species ) 
native plant species2 &  7#c7 to ma9ta9 
& monitor rip>ian areas 9 :i* nonnative 
plant species h be5 remov$ & replac$4   
7c7 ,applications  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,to be 

eligible to receive a grant "u ?is      
section1 an eligible entity %all submit 
to ! ,secret>y an application at su* "t1
 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z 
! ,secret>y may require1 includ+--  7,a7
 a plan = h[ ! eligible entity w use    
grant funds to c>ry out ! activities    
describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 (  
subsection 7b72  7,b7 a description ( ! 
mann] 9 :i* ! eligible entity has c>ri$ 
out ! consultation requir$ "u p>agraph  
7#b72 &  7,c7 in=mation demon/rat+ t ea*
 native plant species describ$ 9        
subsection 7b77#b7 w-- 7i7 7,i7 r$uce   
flood risk2  7,,ii7 improve hydrology & 
wat] /orage capacities2 or  7,,iii7     
r$uce fire haz>d2 &  7ii7 protect &     
re/ore riv]s & /reams & associat$       
rip>ian habitats1 includ+ fi% & wildlife
 res\rces t are dep5d5t on ^? habitats4 
7#b7 ,consultation ,an eligible entity  
seek+ a grant "u ?is section %all       
consult ) local /akehold]s1 includ+     
cons]vation gr\ps1 to create ! plan     
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,a74  7d7     

,report ,an eligible entity t receives a
 grant "u ?is section %all submit to !  
,secret>y a report at su* "t1 9 su*     
mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z !      
,secret>y may require1 includ+ in=mation
 on me?odology & outcomes ( nonnative   
plant species removal & replacem5t      
ef=ts4  7e7 ,au?orization (             
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section     
#aj1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbj & ea*    
fiscal ye> !reaft]4